Sanctuary lamp
after 1839
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Height: 43 1/2 in. (110.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
Italian, Naples
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George Blumenthal, 1941
Accession Number
41.190.473a, b
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, this magnificent sanctuary lamp by Neapolitan silversmitharo Romanelli exemplifies the opulent metalwork tradition of 19th-century Italy. Crafted in silver after 1839 standing an impressive 43½ inches tall, it served a sacred purpose in Catholic churches: to hold a perpetual flame, signaling the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Its bequest by George Blumenthal in1941 preserves this artifact of devotion for modern viewers. Romanelli, a master artisan from Naples—a city renowned for its...